Make Your Spouse Feel Special – MM #299

Does your spouse know beyond a shadow of doubt that you care for him or her above any other adult human being? Do you find ways to make your spouse feel special so he or she is glad to be married to you? Or do you take your spouse for granted that he or she “should just know” that you care? Be careful. You could be walking down a dangerous marital path.

“We have to fight against taking our spouses for granted. And taking them for granted is easy to do, because on the day we marry, we gain a monopoly of sorts” (Gary Thomas).

Does Your Spouse Feel Valued and Special?

We can’t even imagine that God would want us to fall into the habit of not taking better care of our marriages. This is because “He cares for you”(1 Peter 5:7) and He cares for your spouse, as well. So, to help us take better care of our marriages we’ve listed below 20 ways to make our spouses feel special. These lists come from the fun book, Lists to Live By for Every Married Couple compiled by Alice Gray, Steve Stephens, and John Van Diest. (This is a fun book composed of variety of lists.)

Glean through the list that’s appropriate for making your spouse “feel special.” But don’t get hung up on pronouns; every marriage is different. If you think your spouse would prefer something listed in the other “20 Ways” then adapt it to bless your spouse. The important thing is just to DO something that shows you care, beyond the everyday things that you do! Be intentional and show your spouse that when you said, “I do” on your wedding day to love and honor him or her, you meant it. You meant it back then, today, and for the rest of your life together!

20 Ways to Make Your Wife Feel Special

(This is written by Al Gray— married 34 years.)

1. Ask her to dance when you hear your [or a special] love song.

2. Polish her shoes for special occasions [or rub her feet when she’s tired].

3. Have good conversation when you’d rather read the paper.

4. Give her a back rub with no expectations of lovemaking.

5. Buy and plant a rosebush [or another flowering or special plant] as a surprise [or buy her flowers].

6. Keep your home repaired and in good order [little and big things matter to her].

7. Make sure the car has good tires and is in good running condition. [And if you don’t have a car, find another way to show that you are watching out for her and want to help her].

8. Hold her hand when you lead the family in prayer.

9. Write out a list of all your important documents and where you keep them.

10. Find a way to save something from every paycheck.

11. Ask her input before making decisions.

12. Hold her tenderly when she cries.

13. Ask her out and plan the entire date yourself, including making the reservations. [You can find ideas in the “Romantic Ideas” topic on this web site.]

15. Understand when she forgets to enter a check. [Be a dispenser of grace, whenever you can.]

16. Shave on your day off.

17. Call if you’re going to be more than fifteen minutes late.

18. Encourage her to take time out with her friends.

19. Remember to carry a clean handkerchief [or tissue] when you go to a romantic movie. [And don’t make fun of her if she cries during certain scenes.]

20. Tell her she will always be beautiful when she worries about getting older.

And for wives, here are:

20 ways to Make Your Husband Feel Special

(This list is written by Alice Gray.)

1. Don’t interrupt or correct him when he is telling a story.

2. Compliment him in front of his children, your parents, his parents, and friends.

3. Be as concerned about your looks as you were when you were dating.

4. Let him have some time to relax when he arrives home from work [or a little later if that works out best].

5. Develop a genuine interest in his work and hobbies.

6. Admire him for his strength and significance.

7. If he wants to take a lunch to work, pack it for him.

8. Try to be home (and off the phone) when he gets home.

9. Help your children be excited about Dad coming home.

10. Buy him socks and underwear on ordinary days instead of giving them as gifts on holidays.

11. Keep your bedroom tastefully decorated and clutter free.

12. Understand when he wants to send time enjoying sports or hobbies with his friends.

13. Keep his favorite snack on hand.

14. Stick to your budget.

15. Watch his favorite sport events with him.

16. Try to go to bed at the same time he does.

17. Trade baby-sitting with friends so you have some nights at home alone.

18. Keep lovemaking fresh and exciting.

19. Bake homemade cookies for him to take to work.

20. Ask yourself one question every day: “What’s it like being married to me?”

An Added Bonus on Making Your Spouse Feel Special

Additionally, here’s a bonus one we found that we’re posting on our Facebook page:

“How do you overcome the routine you’ve fallen into? By daily acts of kindness, letting your spouse know you’re thinking of them throughout the day. Never leave the house without a passionate kiss… giving a little passion to remember you by for the rest of the day. Take 30 seconds to email or text a note of care and even enticement. Also set aside time to have a weekly date night so your relationship continues to grow.” (Beth Young)

And here is one last thought for you to prayerfully consider:

“I hope you realize the importance of encouraging your spouse’s efforts. Even if you don’t see the romantic gesture you’ve been dreaming about, even if the timing isn’t perfect, express your appreciation warmly. There are few things that make us feel worse than being rejected after we’ve made an effort to please.” (Doug Fields, Creative Romance)

In closing, please know that our prayers are with you that together we can make our marriages the best they can be!